Bora Bora vacations, honeymoons. Explore Bora Bora resorts & packages Aerial view of the Hotel Four Seasons Bora Bora Aerial view of Bora Bora Sunset Dinner at the St Regis Bora Bora Resort Sailing in Bora Bora/ Photo courtesy of Tahiti Tourisme Bora Bora Vacations Map Bora Bora Vacations Your Bora Bora vacation begins with captivating views of sheer physical splendor as the plane descends over the island. An immense multi-hued lagoon surrounds Bora Bora and itsï¿½ fringing motus (islets), with the castle-like Mt. Otemanu piercing the sky from the middle of the island. Spend some time here and it quickly becomes apparent why novelist James Michener calls Bora Bora ï¿½the worldï¿½s most beautiful island.ï¿½ Located only fifty minutes northwest of Tahiti by flight, the idyllic destination is often lauded as a mecca for jet-setting vacationers and romantics for whom money is no object, though Bora Bora resort packages and vacation deals are often available. Those planning a honeymoon in Bora Bora will not be disappointed.

Lush tropical slopes and valleys blossom with hibiscus, and perfect white-sand beaches give way to emerald waters where colored fish animate the coral gardens. Bora Bora could easily be described as the center of the romantic universe, where luxury resorts and spas dot the island with overwater bungalows, thatched roof villas, and fabled ambience. Itï¿½s not a surprise that starry-eyed lovers travel from around the world to spend their honeymoon in Bora Bora. Pora Pora - the ancient name of the island, meaning "first born," came from legends describing this as the first island to rise when Taaroa, the supreme god, fished it out of the waters. Bora Bora was first settled by early Polynesians who arrived on canoes during the 4th century. Later on, when the Tahitians lost the French Tahitian War, Bora Bora and all the other islands became property of France. By the 1900s the population of the island had grown, and during World War II it served as a military supply and airplane base. Relics from World War II can still be seen on the island today.

French is the main language spoken on Bora Bora, with about 20 percent of the population speaking Tahitian. Bora Boraï¿½s airport is located on Motu Mute, an islet at the northwestern edge of the barrier reef. Your Bora Bora vacation starts with a quick ferry ride that will take you across the lagoon to the islandsï¿½ various resorts and hotels. Not far from the airport is Motu Traveairoa, home to the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort. Just across the bay on Motu Toopua sit the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa and The Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa Luxury Collection. The road around Bora Bora spans a mere 19 miles and can be covered by car, scooter, bike, or via the escorted Circle Island Tours. All tours start in Vaitape, the largest city and hub of the island. Raititi Point , the southern tip of Bora Bora, marks the entrance to the luxurious Hotel Bora Bora as well as the start of Matira Beach, a mile of exquisite white sand and the most popular public beach in the islands.

Over three decades ago, Hotel Bora Bora built the first overwater bungalows on stilts over the lagoon. Today, overwater bungalows have become a standard feature of most Bora Bora resorts and offer an ultimate Bora Bora vacation experience. Some of the islandsï¿½ premiere resorts are located along this stretch of beach, including the Intercontinental Le Moana Beach Resort at Matira Point. On the islandï¿½s eastern side you will find some of the most luxurious Bora Bora resorts, such asSaint Regis Bora Bora Resort and Hotel Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, as well as Novotel Bora Bora Beach Resort and the Sofitel Marara Bora Bora. Sitting just off-shore is the Sofitel Motu Bora Bora. Aside from its world-class resorts, Bora Bora is known for unique and high-end boutiques and for its fine restaurants featuring international cuisine.

As for the activities on Bora Bora, you can choose from parasailing, snorkeling and diving, visit to the Lagoonarium undersea experience, shopping for local art, Tahitian pearls, perfumes and oils, and precious wood handcrafts, and unforgettable shark and manta ray feedings. One thing is for sure, you will not get bored on your Bora Bora vacation. Bora Bora Bora Bora CUSTOM QUOTE see packages Bora Bora Island is a dreamed sought-after destination for a romantic trip in French Polynesia. With its surprising landscape combining high mountains and atoll sceneries, Bora Bora is named « the Pearl of the Pacific » thanks to its extreme beauty and paradise beaches. This islet setting will invite you to romance in the tranquility of its crystal clear lagoon. Live your honeymoon in an incredible setting, between luxury resorts and unrivaled surroundings. As a couple or with your family, for a honeymoon or just a vacation, Bora Bora offers everything that you can dream of in the same location. Be tempted by the original concept of the overwater bungalow for a stay closer to the lagoon. In this idyllic environment, you will forget it all!

In one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world, you will make the most of a dive, an outrigger canoe or boat ride and be amazed by the incredible underwater scenery ! Bora Bora won’t be just a trip but a marvelous experience. Amazing shades of blue on Bora Bora lagoon Traditional wedding in Bora Bora Swimming with wild rays Swimming in your Bora Bora pool Bora Bora: a few facts Tahitian name: Pora Pora “First Born” Located 280 km (175 miles) north-west of the island of Tahiti (50 minute flight) Area: 38km2 (15 miles2) Airport located on Motu Mute White sand beaches Highest mountain: Mount Otemanu elevation 727 m - (2,385 ft) Must see Amazing incredible underwater world: scuba diving Hiking Mount Pahia Visit of Marotetini royal Marae Teavanui pass Maupiti , the same but more secluded.

During your vacation Remember your time in French Polynesia with a stunning Tahitian Pearl Unforgettable dinner at Bloody Mary’s Sandrine et Loï¿½c 14 2016 France Translated by Google translate : We were extremely pleased with the service Yestahiti (Fred) who answered all our requests and each time in a very short time. All reservations that we had made in advance from Switzerland went perfectly. Both visits to the islands dives were well organized. We also note each time the ponctualités people who organized pickup. We were pleased with all accommodation where we stayed. We would however appreciate that the wifi is also included in Bora Bora and Rangiroa. It was a bit much for not having free wifi in Bora Bora because the island is still well served. 2 Intercontinental Hotels of Tahiti and Moorea were really great. Despite the size of the institutions felt there was not to be a simple number. The pension Rurutu was also excellent. We ate very well and the excursions were very interesting. The owner knows very well his island. We also had the chance to be present during the Heiva. Pension Fakarava was quite original.

We enjoyed living without electricity as of Robinson. All excursions we made went very smoothly ... punctuality and interesting information. Our only regret is not having had the chance to see whales. Another big thank you to Fred who was very well organized our stay. Thanks to you we could enjoy every minute in Polynesia ... our only sadness is that Polynesia is too far from Europe ... We would have liked to spend more time and even visit more islands. Sandrine and Loïc Australia By far the best value, far cheaper than any packages offered locally in Australia. staff are superb. Lunch and dinner menu is relatively inexpensive. The dinner special e.g. romantic dinner packages offered at Sofitel are expensive, compared to booking a restaurant on the main island. Thanks to Yestahiti for organizing it all, it was the best planned holiday we have been on. Amï¿½lie France Translated by Google translate : An unforgettable family holiday in Moorea to Tipaniers and very romantic at the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort and Tahaa Relais & Châteaux ... HEAVENLY ! Excursions breathtaking ! Maururu our counsel Frédéric !

Vera Spain Translated by Google Translate : Everything were excellent except the weather in June and currents of water around the motu . The polinesians all super nice. Bravo. Thank you. Trevor and Loraine Peterborough,England Hi Frederick, I just wanted to say 'A Big Thank-you' to You and Jack for making our trip of a lifetime, celebrating our 25th Anniversary, completely pain free. From start to finish, it was an amazing experience. Never been to the French Polynesia before and having no one to ask, because no one we know have been, we were very much in the dark. You took that worry off our hands and planned a schedule for us, with just a few 'must dos' from ourselves. Right from the flight over, everything was taken care of. We didn't have to think about a thing, all we had to do was enjoy our time there. You booked the best of everything within our budget, every detail was taken into consideration and nothing was left out. We had a schedule given to us for every time we moved to another part, stating times, pickups and drop_offs. We didn't have to ask or worry about a thing. The catamaran was fabulous.

Our captain and crew were wonderful. They made us feel like family. A week on a small vessel could have been very uncomfortable, but to the contrary, we had a blast. After nearly three weeks of mind blowing beauty, a part of our heart will be left in French Polynesia. We can't thank you enough for the experience and discovery of your beautiful country. We will be returning. 1. Location Source via Bora Bora is an island in the Pacific Ocean. It is located in the French Polynesia, and it is the overseas territory of France. Its original name is actually Pora Pora, the letter “b” doesn’t even exist in the local language, and it means “First Born.“ The island is 7 million years old but was first discovered in 1722. It is located about 160 miles northwest of Tahiti, and around 2600 miles south of Hawaii. The island is of volcanic origin and is surrounded by coral reefs. It is a luxury resort very popular with tourists, so expect some crowd. The official language is French, but the local Polynesian dialect is also spoken here. 2.

Climate Source via There is, pretty much, no bad time to visit Bora-Bora, but still, the best time to visit might be in June, July, August and October. The summer lasts from November till April and is quite hot and humid, while the rest of the year is a bit cooler and dryer. The summer is the rainy season, so it is cloudy almost every day and the storms are short, strong and unpredictable. The average high yearly temperature is 84.7F, while the average low is 74.5F. Bora Bora has the average of 109 rainy days throughout the year, and the rainiest months are from January till April. The rainy season is considered to be the “off season” but it also has a couple of advantages. First and foremost, the island is less crowded during this period, so it is easier to find accommodation. The prices are also lower during the rainy season. You might think that there will be no sun during the wet season, but that’s not really true. You will get your fair share of the sun, just expect less of it than during the dry season. Dry season, on the other hand, is the peak of the tourist season.

During this period Bora Bora is packed with people. Rain is seldom and the fluctuation between day and night temperatures is minimal. It is also the best period for diving, because the water will be crystal clear. The most crowded month is July, because a lot of local celebrations are held during this month. Expect wind during the whole year in Bora Bora. Also bear in mind that this region is prone to cyclones and hurricanes, but not really as much as south or Midwest of the US for example. So, there is no a real reason to worry, but precaution and a wind proof jacket are advisable. 3. Tourism Bora Bora basically lives off tourism and it offers so many fun things to do; from the inevitable diving, snorkeling and fantastic trips to mountains in 4×4 Jeeps, to feeding sharks and sting rays. The island itself is so fantastic that you will be absolutely satisfied to do nothing at all but to sunbathe and swim in the crystal clear water. Still, there are really a lot of great things to do and see and you should not miss them. For more information about this, check out the article on Things to do in Bora Bora. I am sure you will find something you like.

Check out this amazing travel guide about Bora Bora and find out more. Are you planning on visiting Bora Bora? Tell us about your plans in the comments below! Looking for something just as pretty but more budget friendly? Choose between these 3 alternatives to Bora Bora . RECOMMENDED for YOU Pacific Islands | region, Pacific Ocean | Britannica.com Pacific Islands Polynesian culture Pacific Islands, island geographic region of the Pacific Ocean . It comprises three ethnogeographic groupings— Melanesia , Micronesia , and Polynesia —but conventionally excludes the neighbouring island continent of Australia , the Asia-related Indonesian , Philippine , and Japanese archipelagoes, and the Ryukyu , Bonin , Volcano , and Kuril island arcs that project seaward from Japan . Neither does the term include the Aleutian chain or such isolated islands of the Pacific Ocean as the Juan Fernández group off the coast of South America. The more inclusive term Oceania , in its broadest definition, encompasses all the foregoing; however, the term is used less strictly in this article to refer to the Pacific Islands as defined above.

The Pacific Island region covers more than 300,000 square miles (800,000 square km) of land—of which New Zealand and the island of New Guinea make up approximately nine-tenths—and millions of square miles of ocean. It is a mixture of independent states, associated states, integral parts of non-Pacific Island countries, and dependent states. Map of the Pacific Islands. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Houses on stilts, Port Moresby, P.N.G. Geogphotos/Alamy The great arc of islands located north and east of Australia and south of the Equator is called Melanesia (from the Greek words melas, “black,” and nēsos, “island”) for the predominantly dark-skinned peoples of New Guinea island, the Bismarck Archipelago , Solomon Islands , Vanuatu (the New Hebrides), New Caledonia , and Fiji . Culture areas of the Pacific Islands. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

North of the Equator and east of the Philippines are the islands of Micronesia, which form an arc that ranges from Palau , Guam , and the Northern Mariana Islands in the west eastward through the Federated States of Micronesia (the Caroline Islands), Nauru , and the Marshall Islands to Kiribati . In the eastern Pacific, largely enclosed within a huge triangle formed by the Hawaiian Islands to the north, New Zealand to the southwest, and Easter Island (Rapa Nui) far to the east, are the many (“poly”) islands of Polynesia. Other components of this widely scattered collection, again generally from west to east, are Tuvalu , Wallis and Futuna , Tokelau , Samoa (the former Western Samoa), American Samoa , Tonga , Niue , the Cook Islands , and French Polynesia (including the Society , Tuamotu , and Marquesas islands). Similar Topics Galapagos Islands The main Pacific Islands span the Equator obliquely from northwest to southeast and can be divided into two major physiographic regions by island type: continental and oceanic.

Deep ocean trenches form the Andesite Line along the eastern borders of Japan, the Marianas , New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and New Zealand. The line separates the basaltic volcanic islands of the central and eastern Pacific from the islands of the broad western Pacific margin, which are formed mainly of metamorphosed rocks, sediment, and andesitic volcanic material. The continental islands , lying southwestward of the Andesite Line, are faulted and folded in mountainous arcs, tend to be higher and larger than those farther east, and have rich soils that support almost every kind of vegetation. Continental islands are generally larger (most notably, the Marianas, New Guinea, the Bismarcks, the Solomons, Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia, and the North and South islands of New Zealand) and have richer mineral-bearing soils than their oceanic counterparts. The parent lava material of the oceanic type of island is basalt. Oceanic islands are differentiated as high volcanic-based islands, such as Hawaii, or low coral islands and atolls , such as the Marshalls. Most Pacific islands are coral formations, although all of these rest on volcanic or other cores.

In the shallow waters of the tropics, both continental and oceanic islands attract coral growth in the form of fringing reefs, partially submerged platforms of consolidated limestone , with coral organisms at the ocean edge feeding on materials carried in by waves and currents. Many islands have been gradually submerged through a combination of sinking, caused by geologic action, and flooding, caused by the melting of ice caps. As islands were flooded, coral growth continued outward, producing barrier reefs farther from the shorelines and separated from them by lagoons. Volcanic peaks of Bora-Bora, a high volcanic island surrounded by a lagoon, Society Islands, French … © Nicholas DeVore III/Bruce Coleman Inc. A computer visualization of the process by which volcanic island chains are formed. Great plumes of … Displayed by permission of The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. (A Britannica Publishing Partner) Britannica Stories Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales A coral atoll results when still further flooding reduces an island to a submarine condition. The usually irregular reef continues to build up in the warm shallows.

It encircles a clear-surfaced lagoon of moderate depth and in time supports a number of islets built up from reef debris to 20–30 feet (6–9 metres ) above sea level . Rain catchments are usually the only source of fresh water on atolls . Islet of Bairiki, Tarawa atoll, Kiribati. Richard Vogel/AP History Randomizer The successive geologic lifting of some islands above sea level has created a variety of “raised” coral formations. The northern half of Guam, for example, is a coralline limestone plateau with a general elevation of about 500 feet (150 metres), while the mountains in the southern half of the island, formed by volcanic activity, reach a maximum elevation of over 1,300 feet (400 metres). Nauru and Banaba (in Kiribati) are raised coral islands that stand at elevations of about 210 and 285 feet (65 and 90 metres), respectively. They have deeper soil and a more adequate water supply than atoll islets, as well as surface deposits of phosphate rock (derived from guano ) that have been mined commercially.

The climate of the Pacific Islands is generally tropical (except in New Zealand, which has a temperate climate), with temperatures , humidity , and rainfall relatively uniform throughout the year. Temperature varies from averages in the low 80s F (about 28 °C) on both Nauru and Kiribati to an average in the low 60s F (about 15 °C) on Norfolk Island, one of the southernmost Pacific Islands. Most vegetation is derived from Indonesia and New Guinea, and its generic variety declines eastward across the Pacific. Local environmental differences and relative isolation have resulted in the evolution of numerous new endemic species. The introduction of new species from throughout the world has also markedly altered island flora. Only a small proportion of the total land area is arable and, outside New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, is devoted mostly to the cultivation of coconut and cassava. Most of the larger islands also support some livestock. As much as two-thirds of the Pacific Islands’ total land area is forested. Most of the islands are poor in mineral resources. Connect with Britannica The population is concentrated in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand (which has a majority of people of European descent), Hawaii, Fiji, and Solomon Islands.

Most Pacific Islands are densely populated, and habitation tends to be concentrated along the coasts. Traditionally dressed dancers in Honiara, Sol.Is. Tim Page/Corbis Melanesians make up more than three-fourths of the total indigenous population of the Pacific Islands. Polynesians account for more than one-sixth of the total, and Micronesians constitute about one-twentieth. People of European origin account for as much as one-third of the Pacific Islands’ population if New Zealand is included in the total and less than one-tenth if it is not; outside New Zealand the largest concentration of people of European origin is in Hawaii. Several hundred distinct languages are spoken in the Pacific Islands; these are mostly Austronesian in origin. Most islanders have some familiarity with English or French; one or the other of these is the official language of virtually all Pacific Islands. Christianity has largely supplanted traditional beliefs and practices, although in some areas, such as Papua New Guinea, Christian faith is often combined with traditional practices. In general the Pacific Islands have developing economies in which both public and private sectors participate. The gross national product (GNP) per capita varies widely.

Agriculture , fishing, and services are generally the largest economic sectors, and mining is important on a few of the islands. Subsistence farming predominates on the smaller islands. Almost all the islands grow coconuts, which, with copra, are a major export. Pasture is available only on the larger islands; pigs, cattle , and chickens are raised commercially there, and sufficient milk and meat are produced to satisfy domestic needs. Villagers on some smaller islands and New Guinea rear pigs and goats for local use. Subsistence fishing is important everywhere except Hawaii and New Zealand and provides a major source of protein in local diets. There is also commercial fishing , notably in Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Fiji, which account for much of the regional catch. Islanders fishing in shallow waters off Ifalik Island, Yap state, Micron. Wolfgang Kaehler/Corbis Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Commercially exploitable forests in Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, and Vanuatu produce timber, sawn wood, and wood products for domestic consumption and export. The other islands generally must import quality lumber.

Mineral production is limited to a few of the continental islands, such as New Caledonia, New Guinea, and New Zealand. The manufacturing sector, except in Hawaii and New Zealand, is mostly undeveloped and limited to processing fish and agricultural products and producing handicrafts. Other islands with significant manufacturing besides Hawaii and New Zealand include Guam, Fiji, the Northern Marianas, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomons. Regional electricity is generated largely from imported fuels. Most Pacific Islands’ annual imports (excluding those of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Hawaii) far exceed exports. Tourism and remittances from expatriates only partially offset the trade deficits. Frozen or canned fish, minerals , copra , cocoa , coffee , tea , and spices are among the leading exports, mainly to Japan, France , the United States, and Australia. Machinery and transport equipment, mineral fuels, food, and manufactured goods are among the chief imports and come mainly from Australia, France, Japan, and the United States . Only a small proportion of the Pacific Islands’ external trade is intraregional. Tourism is very important to the Pacific Ocean islands.

Attractions include fine beaches, good fishing and boating, and local customs and crafts. French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Fiji, and New Zealand have the most developed tourist sectors, but many of the other islands place a priority on developing facilities. Most Pacific Islands that are overseas territories of other countries receive budgetary and development aid, mainly from the continental governing countries, while the smaller independent island states receive aid particularly from Australia and New Zealand, as well as from Japan, the United Kingdom , and the United States. Air transport and interisland shipping are the principal means of transport. Many of the island groups have international airports. Extensive road networks are limited to the larger islands. Offshore hut, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia. © Digital Vision/Getty Images The remainder of this article covers the history of the region.

For more detailed discussion of the land and people of individual island groups and states, see the articles American Samoa , Caroline Islands , Cook Islands , Fiji , French Polynesia , Guam , Kiribati , Line Islands , Mariana Islands , Marshall Islands , Federated States of Micronesia , Midway Islands , Nauru , New Caledonia , Niue , Northern Mariana Islands , Palau , Papua New Guinea , Pitcairn Island , Samoa , Solomon Islands , Tokelau , Tonga , Tuvalu , Vanuatu , Wake Island , and Wallis and Futuna . For discussion of the arts and cultures of the region, see the articles Oceanic art and architecture , Oceanic music and dance , Oceanic literature , Melanesian culture , Micronesian culture , and Polynesian culture . Area (excluding Indonesian New Guinea and the Hawaiian Islands but including Papua New Guinea) 317,739 square miles (833,926 square km). Pop. (2007 est.; excluding Indonesian New Guinea and the Hawaiian Islands but including Papua New Guinea) 13,518,070.

Early period The prehistory of the Pacific Islands, the period before written records begin, extends back at least 33,000 years, according to archaeological remains in the Bismarck Archipelago , and migration to the region may have begun more than 40,000 years ago. Settlers had reached every habitable island by the 2nd millennium ce. Since the arrival of Europeans in the early 16th century, the cultures , populations, and economies of the Pacific Islands have been transformed to varying extents, at first by contact with passing explorers and then, from the late 18th century, by the influence of more permanent visitors such as castaways, beachcombers, missionaries, and traders. During the 19th and 20th centuries, settlers flowed in, labourers immigrated or were brought in from other countries (predominantly India and China), and European administrators arrived. Missionaries and immigrants still make up significant segments of the population on the islands today, although European governments, with the exception of that of France, have entirely withdrawn from the region.

Historical documents for the region are chiefly of European origin and are therefore the products of people who may not accurately have depicted cultures different from their own—cultures they perceived and understood only imperfectly. This distortion can be corrected to some extent by using the findings of social anthropology and the oral traditions of the Pacific Island people, but these sources may describe the past inaccurately because they serve contemporary purposes; they do not record the past for its own sake. But the main historiographic challenge provided by the region is its diversity . Some 10,000 islands scattered across a wide expanse of ocean, a variety of cultures, hundreds of mutually unintelligible languages, and diverse historical experiences make generalizations difficult. (The arts of the region are treated in separate articles; see Oceanic art and architecture ; Oceanic music and dance ; and Oceanic literature .) The influence of physical geography Because of the distances involved, contact between islands has never been easy. In addition, the islands’ physical environments are isolated and varied. The large continental islands of Melanesia have widely varied landscapes, climates, and soil types; moreover, their rugged terrain has facilitated social isolation.

The smaller volcanic high islands have greater homogeneity and easily support life well above the subsistence level. The physical environment did not determine the kinds of society that developed, but it did limit them. The large islands of Melanesia set the stage for profound cultural differences between people of the coast and those of the interior, particularly those in the more isolated valleys. Thus, Melanesia became characterized by many small groups of people, divided from each other by language and custom. There was little political and social organization, because most families and communities expended their energies on gathering food and other basic necessities. The high volcanic islands of Polynesia offered no such barriers to social and political unity. Their fertility allowed elaborate social, religious, and political rituals to develop. These geographic and cultural contrasts between the Pacific Islands, which were obvious to early European visitors, concealed a similarity: the societies all rested on the principle of reciprocity . Whether the society was small, with leadership a matter of acquiring influence rather than hereditary position, or larger, with chiefs who were looked on with awe and treated with reverence, every gift or service had to be reciprocated .

Origins of Oceanian peoples Jules-Sébastien-César Dumont d’Urville , an early 19th-century French navigator and explorer, classified the islanders as Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian. The apparent differences between the islanders were regarded as evidence of separate waves of ethnically different people out of Southeast Asia . (A discredited variant theory traced the Polynesians to South America). More recent research suggests that the differences arose within the islands themselves, through the intermixture of an original settlement of non-Austronesian-language speakers (see Papuan languages ) from Southeast Asia with a later wave of Austronesian speakers (see Austronesian languages ). The earlier wave of settlement occurred in Melanesia at least 33,000 years ago and probably, since New Guinea and Australia were then linked by land, at dates contemporaneous with Australian dates of settlement, extending back some 40,000 years or more. Secure dates in the interior of New Guinea approach 30,000 years ago. However, more sites must be uncovered to increase the level of certainty.

Linguists have used a chronology of sound changes to trace the time and place of dispersion of language groups, but a considerable number of the languages of Oceania are as yet unstudied and unclassified. Geneticists have conducted studies in order to establish connections between contemporary human groups, thereby revealing past migrations, but systematic sampling has not yet been carried out. The later Austronesian speakers, members of the prehistoric Lapita culture , which produced the well-known pottery known as Lapita ware, established themselves in the Bismarck Archipelago about 4,000 years ago. They then spread to Fiji , Tonga , and Samoa, which have been regarded as the Polynesian homeland. Newer evidence, however, has led to disagreement among prehistorians about the Lapita cultural complex: it may have arrived in Fiji with a later wave of seafaring immigrants. There is also disagreement about the speed with which the Lapita culture , distinctively linked with the Polynesians, moved from Southeast Asia through Melanesia into Fiji and thence to eastern Polynesia. The Marianas were probably settled about 1500 bce.

It is possible that the Marquesas were settled as early as the 2nd century bce, rather than 300 ce, a date at which settlements may have occurred in Hawaii. The Society Islands were occupied by at least the 9th century ce. Lapita pottery, reconstructed two-dimensional anthropomorphic design, c. 1000 bc. Courtesy of R.C. Green At the time of European contact, Oceanian societies had developed a technology based on stone, bone, and shell objects, and they cultivated tubers and tree fruits, most of which were of Southeast Asian origin. Genetic research has shown that some of the cultigens were native to wider areas, including New Guinea . The most notable exception was the sweet potato , which had spread from South America through most of Polynesia in pre-European times but only marginally into Melanesia. There were three main groups of domesticated animals: pigs, dogs , and chickens. The coastal people had developed fishing techniques and considerable skills as sailors. Navigation between the closer islands was well developed, and regular trade may have occurred between several islands. Some skills were lost; pottery , for example, disappeared in Samoa and the Marquesas shortly after initial settlement.

European exploration The 16th and 17th centuries The world of the Pacific Islands was not a static one, but changes were slow compared with those that attended European contact. Vasco Núñez de Balboa was the first European to sight the Pacific, in 1513; seven years later Ferdinand Magellan rounded South America and sailed across the ocean, missing the main island groups but probably encountering Pukapuka Atoll , in the Tuamotu Archipelago , and Guam . After his death in the Philippines, his expedition encountered some of the Carolines . These northern islands were further explored by the Spaniards as they established a galley trade between Manila , in the Philippines , and Acapulco , in western Mexico . The next major Spanish explorations were made by Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira and Pedro Fernández de Quirós . In 1567 the former set out from Peru to discover the great southern continent that was believed to exist in the South Pacific. He reached the Solomons but failed to find them again on his second journey, during which he died.

In 1606 his chief pilot, Quirós, after finding part of the Tuamotu Archipelago, reached the northern Cook Islands , Tikopia (a small Solomon Islands atoll), and the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu ). One of his companions, Luis Váez de Torres , charted southeastern New Guinea and then the strait (later named for him) between that island and Australia, although the discovery was unknown to later sailors. These Spanish expeditions were motivated by the search for riches, by zeal to extend Christianity , and, in the case of Quirós, by an interest in exploration for its own sake. But with the voyage of Torres, the Spanish effort was ended. Thereafter, the Dutch , who were already established in Indonesia , entered the Pacific. They too looked for a southern continent. In 1615–16 the Dutch navigator Jakob Le Maire traveled from the east through the Tuamotus to Tonga and New Ireland and New Hanover in the Bismarck Archipelago.

In 1642 Abel Janszoon Tasman , sailing from Batavia (now Jakarta ), the Dutch headquarters in the East Indies , saw New Zealand , Tasmania , Tonga, some of the Fiji Islands, and New Britain . The Dutch were primarily interested in commerce; they found none. Tasman thought that New Zealand was part of the great southern continent. The effect of these visitors on Oceania was transitory. The Europeans stayed for periods of at most a few months. Their contacts with the islanders were based on simple barter, but the demands they made on food supplies often caused hostilities in which some European and many islanders’ lives were lost, as on Guadalcanal , in Solomon Islands, and in the Marquesas during Mendaña’s visits. The 18th century During the early 18th century, the extent of Oceania was further revealed. The English buccaneer William Dampier visited New Hanover, New Britain, and New Ireland in command of a Royal Navy ship. Dampier’s journey was a forerunner of the voyages of scientific exploration that followed, and he proved that those islands were separated from each other and from Australia.

In 1722 the Dutch admiral Jacob Roggeveen crossed the Pacific from east to west on a voyage of exploration that also had commercial objectives. He reached Easter Island , more of the Tuamotu Archipelago, the northern islands of the Society group, and some of the Samoan islands. William Dampier. Courtesy of the American Geographical Society These voyages were not essentially different from earlier ones, but they too foreshadowed the scientific interest of the later 18th century. Further study was delayed by European wars. But in 1765 the English admiral John Byron (grandfather of poet Lord George Gordon Byron ), who was sent by the British Admiralty in search of the supposed southern continent, visited more of the Tuamotus and the southern Gilberts . In 1767 Samuel Wallis and Philip Carteret followed, but their ships were separated as they entered the Pacific. Wallis reached Tahiti, more of the Tuamotus, and the Society Islands, while Carteret found Pitcairn Island and revisited the Solomons that Mendaña had visited, although he did not so identify them.

This was left to the French following Louis-Antoine de Bougainville ’s visit in 1768, during which he also charted some of the New Hebrides and Rossel Island , in the Louisiade Archipelago . Dampier’s A New Voyage Round the World and Bougainville’s description of the “noble savage” in Tahiti were particularly influential in Europe. The interest their journeys created was in part responsible for the instructions given to the greatest of all 18th-century explorers of Oceania, James Cook . After three voyages he left others little to do but fill in occasional details of Oceania. Cook was sent (1768–71) to observe the transit of the planet Venus at Tahiti in 1769 and then to search for the great southern continent. He reached some of the Society Islands, but he also circumnavigated New Zealand, and he defined the limits of eastern Australia.

During his second voyage (1772–75), he proved that there was no southern continent, but he also charted further lands in Oceania: in the Tuamotus, the Cooks, the Marquesas, Fiji, Niue , Tonga, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Norfolk Island . During his third voyage (1776–79), which was mainly concerned with the North Pacific, he located some of the Tongan group, Christmas Island ( Kiritimati Atoll ), and the Sandwich Islands ( Hawaii ), where he was killed in 1779. He had completed the main work of exploration with an exactitude previously unknown. Although his contacts with islanders were not essentially different from those of his predecessors, his relations with them were nevertheless more prolonged and more humane. His exploration of eastern Australia, through the account of his naturalist, Joseph Banks , was of great importance in Oceania because it led to the founding of towns on the Australian coast, relatively close to the islands. Early European settlement Itinerants Oceania became a supply source in 1788 for the settlement of Australia.

Pigs from Tahiti were landed at Sydney in 1793, and until 1826 the trade remained important, although it was subject to price fluctuations. The competition among Europeans for sandalwood, pearl shell, and bêche-de-mer (sea cucumber)—valuable cargoes that attracted ships from the Australian colony—further involved Oceania with the European world. Sandalwood was found in Fiji in 1804, and for the next decade it attracted European traders. The sealing industry drew seal hunters to New Zealand, and in the 1790s fur traders wintered in Hawaii. All of these sustained and prolonged contacts began to affect the island societies. In addition, there were increasing numbers of European castaways and beachcombers, who had begun to live in the islands from the days of first European contact, because of the expansion of commercial shipping in the region. Castaways, such as HMS Bounty mutineers who went to Tahiti in 1789, began to alter the political climate by using their muskets to support the chiefs who befriended them. Missionary activity Christian missionaries traveled to Oceania with the deliberate intention of changing its societies.

In 1797 the London Missionary Society (LMS) sent a party to Tahiti. After some vicissitudes the missionaries converted a prominent chief, Pomare II , who controlled the area of Matavai Bay, where European ships had called since Wallis’s landing. The LMS failed in its first attempts in Tonga and the Marquesas, although it was more successful in Huahine (in the Society Islands), the Tuamotus, the Cook Islands, and, later, Samoa. English and American missionaries then tried to win over additional Polynesian chiefs so that the masses would follow. Indigenous converts were sent to other islands to spread the word. In 1823 John Williams of the LMS took Polynesian missionaries to Rarotonga and other islands, and he took Christianity to Samoa in 1830. The Methodists began arriving in Tonga in 1822 and Fiji in 1835. Roman Catholic missionaries began working in New Caledonia in the 1840s, and, at about the same time, the Church of England began to penetrate into Oceania from New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Polynesian societies were facing varying degrees of lawlessness and disorder at the hands of European beachcombers and traders. British missionaries responded to the situation by creating missionary kingdoms, whereas the French established direct political control. In Tahiti, Hawaii, and Tonga, native chiefs became powerful kings by gaining access to European arms and support, consolidating power, and accepting missionary advisers and missionary-designed codes of law. In 1819 Pomare II of Tahiti promulgated such a code. In Tonga, Taufaʿahau took the name George in 1833, and in 1845, when he took the Tongan title Tuʿi Kanokupolu, he became king of Tonga; during his reign Tonga became unified and adopted a constitution (1875). The missionary kingdoms addressed problems of European lawlessness in the islands by attempting to enforce a scriptural code of law. Although missionaries could not prevent the sale of arms, they could at least ensure that these passed into the hands of friendly chiefs. However, the authority of the “kings” was challenged from two sides.

Many opposed them because they believed that, by becoming Christian, they had cut themselves off from the mana (a Polynesian and Melanesian religious concept sometimes described as an all-pervasive energy) that came from the old gods. In Tahiti in 1830 there was a revolt against the new Christian order by supporters of the old ways; in 1831 there was a similar reaction in Tonga. In Samoa, where the holder of the chiefly title Malietoa had embraced Christianity from Tahitian missionaries, heretical movements arose. Traditional beliefs thus resisted the chiefs and their missionary supporters. At the same time, European traders also resisted the political authority of the kings. Dissidents and heretics looked to these Europeans for leadership, and they turned to their own national governments for protection. The French took control of the Society Islands and nearby archipelagoes beginning in 1842. They also established missionary control of Wallis and Futuna. In Melanesia events transpired differently.

In Fiji the missionaries who landed in 1835, accompanied by an envoy from George of Tonga, made no headway with the rising chief Cakobau , who was not converted until 1854, when his fortunes were at a low ebb and he needed Tongan support. Elsewhere in Melanesia, the absence of chiefs meant that missionary work had to be conducted with small groups of people and repeated every few miles. There was no wholesale conversion of the kind that had happened in Polynesia. The LMS failed to win over the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) in the 1840s, and the Anglican Melanesian mission in the Solomons made slow progress in the 1850s. Mission work in New Guinea was divided into four spheres of influence in Papua but did not begin systematically until the 1870s. Micronesia was considered a backwater. The Spaniards had established missionaries in the Marianas in 1668, but the missionaries in the Carolines were killed in 1733.

The main effort came from the Hawaiian Evangelical Mission in the 1850s, which dissolved the old ties of society by attacking the supernatural sanctions that supported leadership and social mores. Missionaries thus altered political structures, introduced both European goods and the desire for them, and acted as intermediaries between Pacific Island societies and other Europeans—as political advisers, as agents, and as interpreters. Growth of trading communities Beachcombers and castaways preceded missionaries in many of the islands, but trading communities grew partly because of the missionaries’ work in restraining native violence. Those individuals were initially pork traders in Tahiti, but European captains followed valuable cargoes from island to island. When the supply of sandalwood was depleted in Fiji by 1813, the traders then found it in Hawaii in the 1820s, in the New Hebrides in 1825, and in New Caledonia in 1840. Pearl shell attracted traders to the Tuamotus in 1807, and the sandalwood trade declined as supplies were exhausted. However, Europeans in both trades were harsh and sometimes committed atrocities, and pearling declined as islanders began to take reprisals.

The needs of the Oceanians also changed the character of trade. Once native polities had been established, the demand for muskets fell off; under missionary influence the demand for alcohol was limited. Islanders increasingly desired clothing and hardware. Exchange trading encouraged the establishment of resident agents in the islands, who met the needs of the whalers who went ashore to refit their vessels. After 1840, exchange trading also met the needs of the staple trade of the islands—coconut oil, derived from copra and used for soap and candles. Copra trading became the mainstay of European trade because even islands that had no other resources had coconut palms. Such commerce promoted the growth of the port towns and of resident trading communities. Papeete in Tahiti, Apia in Samoa, and Levuka in Fiji became centres for Europeans, including respectable traders as well as lawless people who might be escaped convicts from New South Wales (Australia) or others seeking to free themselves from the rules of European societies. Native kings and visiting European captains had difficulty establishing order in these types of frontier towns. Plantation societies Problems became more serious after permanent European settlers arrived.

In Fiji, for example, following Cakobau’s first offer to cede the islands to Great Britain in 1858, Europeans began to establish plantations of coconuts and then, during the American Civil War , of cotton and afterward of sugarcane. Developments in Samoa were similar. But planters needed land on a much larger scale than did traders, and they needed labour in much greater quantities to work the plantations. Land sales caused friction because “ownership” was not an Oceanian concept, and land titles were thus disputed or resented. Labour recruiting often caused the breakup of traditional societies if too many males left their communities and the creation of immigrant labour communities if they did not. By 1870 there were 2,000 such permanent European residents in Fiji. The settlers desired political and economic stability, including secure land titles and a large labour supply, but the missionary kingdoms and independent native governments failed to satisfy their requirements. In Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji no native authority was able to keep order in the novel circumstances created by European enterprise; in any case, the native kings were themselves open to challenge within their own societies.

Pomare II encountered revolt in Tahiti; Samoan politics were always a matter of rivalry between chiefs; and Cakobau’s government was threatened by the Tongan chief Maʿafu, who had established his own confederacy in the Lau Group in Fiji. Page 1 of 2

Question: The Pacific island of Bora Bora is owned by which country?
Answer: FRANCE